Board Adopts Pathways 2035 Trails Master Plan

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently adopted Pathways 2035: Prince William County Trails Master Plan, establishing a framework to guide priorities and future investment in the county’s trail networks. The plan identifies gaps, prioritizes unbuilt trail segments and provides a roadmap for improving connections throughout the county.  

Pathways 2035 was developed with community input by an interdepartmental team from the Prince William County departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation and Capital Construction, and the Planning Office. The planning process included an online survey, two in-person planning charrettes, an online information portal and input from the Trails and Blueways Council. Staff also worked with the Parks and Recreation Commission, neighboring jurisdictions, regional agencies and local trail advocacy groups. 

The plan identifies 291 miles of unbuilt active mobility trails, including shared-use paths, bike lanes and paved shoulders, and 118 miles of unbuilt recreational trails, including hardened- and natural-surface off-road trails. 

Using criteria informed by public input, the project team ranked gaps in both networks into three priority levels. Tier 1 represents the highest priorities, with 42 active mobility segments totaling approximately 76 miles and 44 recreational trail segments totaling approximately 54 miles. 

The plan recommends making Tier 1 segments the primary focus while continuing to evaluate Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects as funding, development or other opportunities arise. Not all Tier 1 projects are expected to be completed within the plan's timeframe. 

Pathways 2035 also includes the county’s first comprehensive look at blueways, or water trails for paddling and other recreational uses. The plan recommends a target of 2 to 3 miles between access points and identifies Broad Run as the starting point for planning a formal water trail with designated launch locations and mapping. 

Other recommendations include improving the on-road bicycle network, developing a recreational trail maintenance plan, expanding partnerships, updating trail design standards and continuing blueway planning. 

Pathways 2035 fulfills a directive in the Mobility Chapter of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which the Board adopted in 2022.  

Adoption of Pathways 2035 does not authorize construction or funding for individual projects and has no direct fiscal impact.  Individual projects and funding decisions will be considered separately as the county works to advance the trail network. 

To view the full Pathways 2035 presentation, visit the Board of County Supervisors webpage.